"If we continue to get some poor results away from home then I would say it's a big matter of concern," Owen said. "But it's only been four or five games so far so I don't think that it's panic stations yet, but we'd like to pick up more results on the road.

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"Everyone is going to have their hard luck stories but we'd like a few more points in the bag. But let's put it into context. We've won away, we've drawn away and lost a couple. If we continued losing away from home we could talk about it, but it's not really a matter of panic just yet."

He added: "We've played some games where we've been disappointed not to get a point away from home against some struggling teams. And against some of the teams we've drawn against we've let a lead slip, such as Middlesbrough away, when we thought we should have won."

Owen, who has six goals to his credit this season, has not scored in five games since his winner in the 3-2 win over Everton on Oct 7, but he is relishing the chance to end his barren streak on Wearside.

"I never doubt my own ability and I'm always confident that if chances come along I will score," Owen said. "When you're scoring goals the target seems huge and likewise, when you're not the target seems tiny.

"I've scored goals all my life and usually when I get one I set off on a nice little run. I've never played in a Newcastle-Sunderland derby and I'm looking forward to sampling this one."

Memories of his exploits in a Real Madrid shirt against Barcelona in 'El Derby' were revived for Owen as he looked forward to spearheading the Newcastle attack for Sam Allardyce, who once played and coached at Sunderland.

"We won 4-2 at home and we lost 3-2 away," Owen recalled. "The scorers' chart in the 4-2 win at home was fantastic. It was Ronaldo, Zidane, Raul and Owen, and then Ronaldinho and Eto'o for Barcelona, so that's five great players. That was good, but we got stuffed away. In a way it isn't a derby. It's just two successful teams — they're miles apart. But they call it 'El Derby', and it's a fantastic occasion."

Billionaire Newcastle owner Mike Ashley will sit among the club's travelling supporters after being told by Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn he could not wear his replica shirt in the directors' box in case some supporters found it an inflammatory gesture.

"Niall and I have had some very constructive conversations on this topic," Newcastle chairman Chris Mort said. "Mike has decided to watch the game in with our fans behind the goal, and he is very much looking forward to doing so."

The sports retail entrepreneur likes to show his affinity to the Newcastle fans by wearing the same replica shirts that helped make his fortune.

Earlier this year he was refused entry to a Newcastle nightclub because he was wearing his black-and-white striped shirt, which has striker Alan Smith's name on the back, but a senior member of staff recognised him and let him in.